Dust collector



Sept. 10, 1968 c. R. SARE DUST COLLECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1966 INVENTOR.

CARL R. SARE ATTORNEYS C. R SARE DUST COLLECTOR Sept. 10, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1966 INVENTOR.

CARL R. SARE Fig. 7

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 0 3,400,517 DUST COLLECTOR Carl R. Sare, Bay Village, Ohio, assignor to W. W. Siy

Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed July 25, 1966, Ser. No. 567,519 13 Claims. (Cl. 55-378) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to air cleaning apparatus and more particularly to dust collectors of the type which employ fabric bags as filter media for air cleaning purposes or the like.

In operation of the apparatus of the type with which the present invention is concerned, dust-laden air to be cleaned may be admitted into a collector so as to pass through a dust wall which may comprise a series of air pervious, but dust impervious fabrictype filter bags which collect admitted dust on the exterior surface thereof. To dislodge the dust, a cleaning action may be effected by reverse air caused to flow through the bags in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the dustladen air entering the collector. The dust dislodged from the exterior surface of the bags may then be discharged into a hopper and removed from the system.

Heretofore, the reverse air fiow for cleaning the bags has been accomplished by a traveler mechanism one form of which has generally included a pair of flexible rollers disposed on either side of a reverse air nozzle for adm'itting air into the open ends of the respective bags and in a direction opposite to the entry of the dust-laden air into the collector. In operation, the traveler may be moved progressively along the open ends of the bags and in a manner to direct a reverse air flow into the bag to be cleaned. For the reverse air flow to be effective, the flexible rollers are required to overlap one or more of th bags on either side of the bag to be cleaned, thereby to seal off the bag being cleaned from the clean air side of the collector so that the reverse air passing through the bag being cleaned will enter with the maximum desired force, rather than being diverted and dissipated. The rollers also operate to keep dust from being entrained and redeposited on adjacent bags.

In use, however, such prior arrangements have presentedconsiderable difficulties, particularly in relation to operation of the traveler mechanism. The flexible rollers are generally comprised of a pliable material, such as soft sponge rubber, which must be compressed tightly against the dust wall, and hence, the open end edges and/or flaps of the respective bags in order to provide the aforementioned type of adequate seal. Moreover, the rollers impart a severe wiping action, such as by rolling and/or sliding, on the exposed portions of the bag which 3,4fi0,5 1 7 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 "ice not only increase wear and/ or actual destruction of such portions, but which also increases wear and/or actual damage to the rollers which causes inequalities on the roll surface and resultant undesirable air leakage. In addition, the bags generally have internal spacer elements to prevent the same from collapsing during the dust collecting operation. Heretofore, such spacer elements have had the tendency to run-out of the bags and into the path of movement of the traveler mechanism. Such runout may not only cause damage to the rollers, but requires shut-down of the operation to adjust and/or replace the spacer element and/or rolls.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned and other related disadvantages of prior dust collecting arrangements by the provision of an improved construction of a dust collector which incorporates a novel means for providing a more adequate and effective seal between the exposed portions of a fabric type filter bag and the movable components of a traveler mechanism or the like, which is of an economic and rugged construction, which reduces wear and/ or or damage to the exposed portionssuch as the end edges and/or flaps-of the bags, which reduces wear and/or damage to the rollers of the traveler mechanism, which reduces the formation of inequalities in the roller surface, which prevents run-out of the spacer elements from the bags, which reduces the down-time of the dust collecting operation, and which increases the over-all efiiciency of the dust collecting apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a dust collecting apparatus which may be employed in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a fabric type filter bag which incorporates, as an integral part thereof, one of the novel fastening and sealing means in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmetary top plan view, partly in section, showing related portions of a plurality of fabric type filter bags connected together by the novel fastening and sealing means of the present invention.;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the novel fastening and sealing members of the present invention and shown removed from the assembly;

FIG. 5 is a schematic sequential illustration representing the successive steps for assembling the novel fastening and sealing means in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, showing one form of a traveler mechanism disposed for coacting engagement with the novel fastening and sealing means of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, showing another form of traveler mechanism disposed for coacting engagement with the novel fastening and sealing means of the present invention.

In general, and with reference again to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a dust collecting apparatus, designated .generally at 10, having a multi-section housing 12 mounted on a frame 13. The housing 12 may be constructed to include any number of sections dependent upon the volume of air to be processed. As shown, the housing 12 may include a dust-laden air chamber 14, and a clean air chamber 16 which may be separated by a dust filter wall, designated generally at 18. Dust-laden air may be admitted through a pipe and clean air discharged through a pipe 17. The flow of air through the apparatus is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1 and may be propelled through the apparatus by a suitable motor driven blower 19.

The dust wall 18 may include a plurality of fabric type dust collecting bags 20 which may be of an open construction at their front ends adjacent the clean air chamber 16. The bags 20 may be attached at their front ends to and fed between a plurality of mullions 22 (FIG. 3) which may be vertically mounted in laterally spaced relationship between a top wall 25 and a bottom wall or base 26 or the housing 12. The bags 20 may extend into the dust-laden air compartment 14 and may be held in spaced relationship at their rear ends by any suitable means, such as by hooks (FIG. 3) which are adapted to engage eyes 35A on a bracket 27 which is suitably supported by the rear wall 29 of the housing. Partitions 30 (only one shown) may extend from the side walls 32 and 33, respectively of the housing 12 so as to be sealed with the mullions 22 in a manner as known in the art. By this arrangement, the bags 20 together with the partitions 30 provide a dust impervious barrier which is operative to separate dust-laden air chamber 14 from the clean air chamber 16.

To prevent the bags 20 from collapsing during the ordinary dust collecting operation, each bag may include one or more internal spacer elements 36 comprised of resilient material, such as wire or the like. Any number of spacers may be provided dependent upon the desired bag size.

Moreover, the dust dislodged from the exterior surface of the respective bag 20 may be deposited in a hopper 38 (FIG. 1) for removal from the system, as desired.

To achieve reverse air flow, a traveler mechanism 40 including a frame 42. having wheels 44 may be disposed for movement by any well known means on horizontally disposed bars 23 and 48 which provide trackways for rolling engagement of the wheels 44 thereon. Within the frame 42 may be provided an air compartment (not shown) which extends throughout the height of the traveler and includes a hood 52 adapted to receive the upper end of a flexible conduit 54. The lower end of the conduit 54 may be connected to another pipe 56 which extends downwardly from a truncated portion 58 of the clean air chamber 16. By this arrangement, atmospheric air may be drawn by sub-atmospheric pressure within the dust-laden chamber 14 into the hood 52, and into the bag 20 to be cleaned. It is also contemplated in the present invention, if desired, to supply air under pressure through the conduit 54, hood 52, and into the bag to be cleaned.

Sealing off each bag 20 to be cleaned from adjacent bags may be accomplished in the present invention by one of several methods. As shown in FIG. 6, sealing may be achieved by a series of flexible wiper units, designated generally at 60, mounted on a bracket 62 which may be attached to the traveler 40 and adapted for coacting sealing engagement with the open end edges and/or flaps of the respective bags. In another form, as shown in FIG. 7, sealing may be achieved by a pair of upright resilient rollers 64 (only one shown) mounted on the traveler 40 which rotate about their axes as the traveler moves back and forth across the dust wall 18 (FIG. 1), to provide the desired sealing in a manner as known in the art. Drive for the traveler meachanism 40 may be achieved by a suitable chain and sprocket arrangement, designated generally at 66, which may be actuated by a suitable motor unit 68 (FIG. 1) mounted on the housing 12.

Preferably, each dust collecting bag 20 (FIG. 2) may be of an elongated, generally polygonal, such as rectangular, construction which is open at one end, such as at the front end 70, and which is defined by a pair of side 72 and end 74 walls which are connected together and which extend from a bottom or end wall 76. Each bag may have side flaps 78 which may be formed by folding the material upon itself and secured, as at 80, by suitable stitching or the like. Each bag may also have end flaps 82 which may be similarly formed and secured, as at 84. The side flaps may each be provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 86 adapted to receive therethrough pins 88 (FIGS. 3 and 5 to 7) on the respective mullions 22. The end flaps 82 may also each be provided with one or more apertures 90 (only one shown) for receiving a suitable fastener such as a bolt (not shown) for securing the top and bottom portions of the respective bags to the housing 12. Elements 91, such as metallic rods, wire or the like, may be disposed to extend through the loop portions of the respective side flaps 78 to provide a reinforcement therefor, and for purposes of securing, as an integral part thereof, the novel fastening and sealing members thereto, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

In accordance with the present invention, each dust collecting bag 20 may include, as a unitary part thereof, a novel fastening and sealing member 92 operably coacting therewith for mounting a pair of bags in spaced side-by-side relationship. As best shown in FIG. 4, each member 92 may be made of resilient material, such as sheet metal having spring-like characteristics. Each member 92 may include a generally fiat, smooth body or base 94 having a length which is generally co-extensive with the height of the respective dust collecting bag 20. The base 94 may be reversely bent adjacent one marginal edge to provide a hook-shaped portion 96 adapted to be secured, as by crimping, around one of the reinforced side flaps 78. The base 94 also includes an integral resilient leg 98 which extends generally normal thereto and which terminates in a generally outwardly curved flared end edge portion 100, and is adapted to project interiorly of one of the associated bags 20 and into abutting engagement with an adjacent one of the spacer elements 36, as best seen in FIG. 3. The base 94 may also have a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 102 corresponding in number to and disposed for registration with the apertures 86 provided in the respective side flaps 78 for receiving therethrough the pins 88 of a respective mullion 22.

In assembly, and as best shown in FIG. 5, the mullions 22 are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to accommodate the respective dust collecting bags, such as 20 and 20', therebetween. sequentially considered, one of the loopedover and reinforced side flaps 7'8 of an adjacent bag 20' is first drawn over an adjacent mullion 22 so that the pins thereon 88 are caused to pass through the aligned apertures 86 in the flap, as indicated at A. Another adjacent looped-over and reinforced side flap 78 of another adjacent bag 20 but which mounts, as a unitary part thereof, one of the fastening and sealing members 92 may then be drawn over the first flap 78 so that the pins 88 are caused to pass through the aligned apertures of the flap 78 and through the apertures 102 provided in the member 92, as indicated at B. 'In the completely overlapped position, the base 94 of the member 92 is disposed in generally parallel relationship with respect to the general plane of the outer end surface of the mullion 22 with the hooked end portion 96 disposed in engaged relation with the looped-over and secured portion of the flap 78' and with the resilient leg 98 extending downwardly and generally parallel with respect to the side wall of the adjacent bag. In this position, the pins 88 are disposed generally flush with the upper surface of the base 94 so as to be out of interfering relation with the movable elements of the traveler 40. By this arrangement, there is provided a substantially unrestricted surface area throughout the length of the member 92, thereby to provide an effective seal upon engage'able coaction with the movable elements, such as the wiper units 60 (FIG. 6) or the flexible rollers 64 (FIG. 7), of the traveler. In this position, the flared end edge portion 100 of a respective member 92 is disposed within the bag 22 (FIG. 3) and into abutting engagement with the adjacent end of one of the spacer elements 36 so as to effectively prevent run-out of the same during the dust collecting operation.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it can be seen that the present invention provides a novel fastening and sealing arrangement which is incorporated, as a unitary part, of the dust collecting bag and which achieves many important advantages over heretofore known types of dust collecting apparatus. By this arrangement, the bags are effectively mounted and held against movement on the respective mullions and in such a way as to prevent shifting and/or tearing of the bags during sealing engagement with the movable components of the traveler mechanism. For example, when the bags are sealed from the reverse air flow, such as by the wiper type sealing arrangement of FIG. 6, the wiper units 60 engage the juncture between the base 94 and the resilient leg 98 of the member 94 in a firm positive engaged relationship as the wiper units move across the open front ends of the bags. Thus, a more positive sealing action is achieved and maintained as compared to heretofore known arrangements. When employed with the flexible roller 64 arrangement of FIG. 7, the members 92 provide a smooth, uninterrupted sealing surface for coacting engagement with the confronting outer peripheral surface of the nollers to achieve a positive seal therewith and without any substantial wear and/ or formation of inequalities in the roll surface. Accordingly, by the present arrangement a more uniform surface-to-surface sealing engagement is achieved between the components so that the reverseair flow can be directed with full force into the respective bags to p1 0- vide a more positive dislodgement of dust from the exterior surfaces of the bag during the dust collecting operation.

I claim:

1. In a filter bag of the type for mounting between a pair of support members in a dust collecting apparatus, said bag being of a generally polygonal construction defined by a bottom and opposing side and end walls and being open at one end thereof, said bag including a pair of integral, oppositely disposed flap portions extending from adjacent the open end of said bag, and a fastening device attached to one of said flap portions and adapted for securernent of the same to one of said support members, said device comprising a body fixedly connected at one end to the respective flap end portion and at its other end extending interiorly of said bag in the installed position thereof, and the body of said device be tween its ends being detachably secured to the respective support member in the installed position thereof.

2. In a filter bag in accordance with claim 1, wherein the'body of said fastening device is of an elongated, generally flat construction, one end of said body including a hook portion bent around an adjacent free end of the respective flap portions, the other end of said body including a resilient leg bent angularly downwardly therefrom and terminating in an outwardly flared curved end edge portion disposed interiorly of said bag, in the said installed position the body of said device being disposed in spaced, generally parallel relation with respect to the confronting surface of the respective support member with the said hook portion in engaged supporting relation with said support member and said arm extending generally parallel to a confronting interior surface of said bag.

3. In a filter bag in accordance with claim 1, wherein the body of said fastening device includes a hook portion at one end fixedly connected to the respective flap portion and a resilient leg at its other end which extends interiorly of said bag.

4. In a fastening device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said body is of an elongated, generally flat construction having a length which generally corresponds to the maximum transverse dimension of the open end of said bag.

5. In a fastening device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said leg extends angularly downwardly from said body in generally parallel relationship with the confronting surface of an adjacent side wall of said bag in the installed position thereof, and said leg including a flared end portion which curves outwardly in a direction away from the respective side wall.

6. In a filter bag in accordance with claim 3, wherein one of said flap portions includes a closed loop adjacent its free end and which extends longitudinally thereof, a reinforcement element disposed in said loop, and the hook portion of said fastening device being bent around said reinforced loop to provide said fixed connection.

7. In a filter bag in accordance with claim 3, wherein the body of said fastening device has a plurality of spaced apertures extending longitudinally between the ends thereof, and the body of said fastening device being adapted to be detachably secured to the respective support member upon insertion of pin members carried by said support member through said apertures in the installed position thereof.

8. In a filter bag assembly for use with a dust collecting apparatus comprising, a plurality of support members disposed in laterally spaced relation with respect to one another, a plurality of porous filter bags disposed in supported relation between adjacent support members, each of said bags being open at one end and including first and second integral flap portions extending from opposed sides of the open end thereof, the said first flap portion of each of the respective bags being disposed in overlying engaged relation on adjacent ones of the respective support members and the said second flap portion of each of the respective bags being disposed in overlapping relation with respect to the first flap portion of an associated adjacent bag in the installed position thereof, a fastening device attached to the said second flap portion of each of said bags, said device being disposed in secured overlying engaged relation on the respective support member so as to extend in overlapping relation with respect to the said first flap portion of each of the associated adjacent loops in the installed position thereof.

9. In a filter bag assembly in accordance with claim 8, wherein each of said fastening devices includes a body fixedly connected at one end to an end edge of the respective second flap portion of each bag, and the other end of said body extending interiorly of the respective bags.

10. In a filter bag assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein the body of each device includes a hook portion at one end disposed in fixedly secured engagement around an end edge portion of the respective bags, and a resilient leg extending angularly downwardly from the body interiorly of the respective bags.

11. In a filter bag assembly in accordance with claim 10, wherein said body is of an elongated, generally flat construction having a length which generally corresponds to the maximum transverse dimension of the open end of the respective bags, and said body having a plurality of spaced apertures adapted to receive a plurality of pin members projecting from the respective support members.

12. In a filter bag assembly in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first and second flap portions of each of the respective bags includes a closed loop portion adjacent an end edge thereof, a reinforcement member disposed in each of said loop portions, and said hook portion being disposed in engaged clamping relation around said reinforced loop portion.

13. In a filter bag assembly in accordance with claim 10, wherein the body of each of said fastening devices is disposed in generally parallel, spaced relation with respect to the respective support member and with the hook portion thereof disposed in supporting relation on said support member, said leg extending downwardly and generally parallel with respect to a confronting interior surface of each of the respective bags.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lienesch 55361 Parsons 55304 Hutchinson 55369 Sare 55379 Jones 55294 Brun 55 Seyfried 55374 8 3,097,939 7/1963 Schnieder et a1. 55304 3,145,169 8/1964 Baldwin et a1. 210232 FOREIGN PATENTS 917,319 2/1963 Great Britain. 943,100 11/1963 Great Britain.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

B. NOZICK, Assistant Examiner. 

